King doubles down, says rape, incest should not be factored in to abortion decisions

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) doubled down Saturday on his remarks criticizing abortions conducted in responses to cases of rape and incest.

The Iowa Republican tweeted his thanks to pro-life commentator Rebecca Kiessling for remarks she made to the Iowa Standard in King's defense.

He tweeted Saturday that fetuses developing from cases of rape or incest were "as precious as any other" and should be protected,

".@RebeccaKiesslin of Savethe1 delivered a powerful statement to the entire nation for legal protection from abortion for innocent babies who were conceived in rape or incest. Their lives are as precious as any other, regardless of how they came to be," King wrote.

King's tweet came in response to Kiessling's criticism of abortions for reasons of rape or incest in the Standard, which Kiessling opposes citing her own conception from her biological mother's rape at the hands of her biological father.

"I am so grateful for his leadership," Kiessling told the Standard of King's record in Congress, while adding that criticism suggesting that he was praising or minimizing rape was "absurd."

"In a civilized society... we do not punish innocent people for someone else's crime. That's exactly what Congressman King said in his statement - the child does not deserve to die for the sins of the father," she added.

King made headlines earlier this month for comments he made to a conservative group in Des Moines, Iowa, where he argued that many people have histories of rape or incest in their family backgrounds.

"What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled those people out that were products of rape and incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" King said, according to the Des Moines Register.

"Considering all the wars and all the rapes and pillages taken place and whatever happened to culture after society? I know I can't certify that I'm not a part of a product of that," he added.